Selling alcohol online can be a profitable venture, but it comes with a set of legal and licensing requirements that must be met. In this guide, we will walk you through the essential steps and information needed to sell alcohol online in the UK, ensuring you remain compliant with the law.
Do You Need a Licence to Sell Alcohol Online in the UK?
Before you start selling alcohol online, it’s essential to determine whether you need a licence. The simple answer is yes, if you plan to sell alcohol in the UK, you need the appropriate licences. This includes obtaining a Personal Licence and a Premises Licence. These licences allow you to legally sell alcohol and ensure that you’re operating within the law.
The Two Main Alcohol Licences You’ll Need
Selling alcohol online in the UK requires obtaining two licences:
Personal Licence
To sell alcohol, the person responsible for the alcohol sales must hold a Personal Licence. This licence allows you to legally sell alcohol, either for on-site consumption or retail.
To obtain a Personal Licence, you’ll need to complete APLH training course and pass the necessary exam. Once you’ve passed, you can apply to your local council for the licence.
For a step-by-step breakdown of the process, learn how to get an Alcohol Personal Licence in the UK.
Premises Licence
If you are selling alcohol from a physical location, whether a store or a warehouse, you will also need a Premises Licence. This licence authorises a specific location to sell alcohol. You’ll need to apply for this licence with your local council, and they will assess your application based on your business and the premises you operate from.
Want to better understand the roles of each licence?
Read more about the differences between a Personal Licence and a Premises Licence
Why Alcohol Licences Exist
Alcohol licences in the UK aren’t just a bureaucratic requirement, they serve important public safety and regulatory purposes. Understanding these objectives helps you appreciate your responsibilities as a seller.
The key objectives of alcohol licensing include:
- Preventing crime and disorder: Ensuring alcohol is sold responsibly to avoid alcohol-related disturbances.
- Promoting public safety: Protecting the health and safety of the public through proper control and monitoring.
- Preventing public nuisance: Reducing the risk of noise, anti-social behaviour, and other disturbances caused by irresponsible alcohol distribution.
- Protecting children from harm: Ensuring minors cannot access alcohol by enforcing robust age verification.
Each of these objectives guides the decisions of local licensing authorities when granting or reviewing licences.
Age Verification and Legal Compliance Online
When selling alcohol online, age verification is a legal requirement. You must verify that all customers purchasing alcohol are over the age of 18. Failure to comply with this requirement can result in significant penalties, including fines and suspension of licences.
How to Ensure Age Compliance
To ensure compliance, you must implement robust age verification systems at the point of sale and delivery. Age verification can be done manually by requesting a customer’s date of birth, or you can use third-party verification services like AgeChecked, VerifyMyAge, or Yoti. Additionally, make sure to check photo identification when delivering alcohol to confirm the recipient’s age.
How to Set Up Your Online Alcohol Business
Now that you understand the legalities and licences required, the next step is setting up your online alcohol business.
Choose Your Selling Platform
You’ll need to decide whether to sell on your own website or use third-party platforms like Amazon. Each platform has its own set of requirements, so it’s essential to ensure that your business complies with both platform rules and the law.
Apply for the Necessary Licences
As we discussed earlier, obtaining a Personal Licence and a Premises Licence is a must. This ensures that you can legally sell alcohol online and deliver it to customers. You will need to ensure that both licences are up to date to avoid legal issues down the line.
Set Up Age Verification Systems
Age verification is one of the most critical aspects of selling alcohol online. This ensures that underage individuals cannot purchase alcohol from your business. Make use of third-party services or set up manual systems to verify the age of customers at checkout and at the point of delivery.
Ensure Legal Delivery Requirements
Another essential element is ensuring that alcohol is only delivered to individuals who are legally allowed to purchase it. This includes checking photo ID at the point of delivery and ensuring that your delivery service complies with alcohol delivery rules.
Start Your Alcohol Business with Hurak
To get your Personal Licence, you’ll first need to complete the APLH course. This is a legal requirement. Hurak makes the whole process simple, and we can even apply for your Personal Licence on your behalf. Start with the APLH Course | Apply for a Personal Licence We also offer full support for your Premises Licence application. Apply for a Premises Licence.